RETINA
Medical Mission in Mongolia
On our first visit to Mongolia we recognized the need for a retinal service in the public sector. Trauma patients, diabetic patients, retinal detachment cases and complications of cataract surgeries to name a few, had no access to care in the public sector.
One of the main barriers to the teaching of cataract surgery is the fact that if a resident runs into complications during cataract surgery the supervising doctors must bear the cost of the patient to enter the private system for management.
In this regard we initiated the following steps
Dr. Enkhtuul completed an 18-month University of British Columbia retina program with Retina Surgical Associates.
Dr. Enkhtuul has also learnt how set up a wet lab to further enhance residents surgical experience
The retinal surgical service was inaugurated September 2018. Donations from the Deseret Foundation and the Laurel Retina Foundation equipped the operating room specifically for retinal surgery. The surgical program has been very successful and busy having completed over *230 surgical vitreo-retina procedures.
Continued support and development of the retina service is critical as the program develops.
*Completed between September 2018 and December 2020.
The development of a public retina service has been the most critical cornerstone in improving patient care and medical and surgical training for the people of Mongolia. Graduates with the skills to perform cataract surgery will be able to work in the provinces with the impact of improving access to care to those patients in the remote areas of Mongolia.
The level of retinal care provided meets international standards.
The Laurel Surgical Foundation will continue to teach and provide the necessary training as the service grows. We are planning to train additional fellows under the University of British Columbia Fellowship program in the future. Surgical and didactic training by visiting professors, such as Dr. Anand (Texas, USA), play a critical role in enhancing the program.
The development of a comprehensive medical retina program is underway. Obtaining diagnostic and therapeutic equipment is critical in treating medical retina conditions such as macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy.